Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Poinsettias Can Last Long After Christmas

People usually enjoy poinsettias for a few weeks before Christmas and then throw them away, but with a little work you can make them last long after the holidays have passed.

Janet Carson, horticulturist for the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, says, "The first thing you need to do when you buy a poinsettia is place it where it can get plenty of sunshine. If these plants don't get lots of bright sunlight, the leaves will turn yellow and begin falling off. Remember, poinsettias have been grown in a sunny greenhouse."

As a rule of thumb, poinsettias need at least as much light as you would need to read by. The plants will tolerate lower levels of light for a few days, but they need to be returned to a sunny location.

"Keep your plants evenly moist," says Carson. "If you allow the plant to reach the wilting point, the lower leaves will turn yellow and drop off. Plants shouldn't be left standing in water, either."

"Most poinsettias come with a decorative foil wrapper. Remove or at least pull back the wrapper slightly to allow air to circulate and let the sunshine penetrate."

Don't subject poinsettias to drafts and temperature extremes by placing them near vents or doorways. Hot and cold drafts can cause premature leaf drop. A temperature range of 60 to 70 degrees is ideal.

"Once the holidays are over, your plant can begin its new life as a houseplant," says Carson. "The showy part of the poinsettia is not its flower. It's the colorful, modified leaves called bracts. Once the bracts begin to fade, cut back the plant by half and place it in a sunny window.

"In the spring, you can move your plant outdoors and watch it take off. This native of Mexico likes the humidity and warm growing conditions. Periodically apply a household fertilizer."

You can make your plant re-bloom for the holidays, but it will take some effort. Starting in late September, poinsettias must be kept in total darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m, and then in bright sunlight from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Continue watering and fertilizing the plant.

The plant should begin changing color in late November and be in full bloom by Christmas.

"Most people aren't going to go to all this trouble," says Carson. "They'll just go out and buy new plants."

She notes that poinsettias are not poisonous. Still, the leaves of a poinsettia plant can cause discomfort if they're eaten as can the leaves of many plants so keep them out of the reach of toddlers.

Carson says children should be taught not to eat parts of any plant.

For more information about plant care, contact your county office of the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.